Literature
Literature from ancient time has been used to convey the traditional and cultures or way of life of the ancient people. One of the literatures that seek to portray beliefs and way of lives of the ancient people is “Epic of Gilgamesh”. In this story, Enkidu is one of the characters and in this context; he is portrayed as a wild animal. He is a creation and important figure in the ancient Mesopotamia created by a goddess known as Aruru with the aim of ridding away Gilgamesh of his arrogance. He is wild animal because; animals raise him and he does not understand human society. He is uncivilized and therefore, he behaves in a different manner.
Medea and Othello is yet another important ancient literature works that the authors use to convey their messages and themes to the society. These two stories revolve around the themes of god and evil. Evil is associated with pain and violence. In these, two plays the concept of ‘foreigners’ and ‘outsider” is evident as it refers to the external influences such as culture that affects the thinking and the reasoning of the various characters (Shakespeare, 1998). For instance in the Medea, Medea feels that her position in the new land –Greek is threatened and this makes her to revenge against her husband who she feels betrayed her. Therefore, there is a concept of coming from foreign country or outside Greek. Likewise, in Othello, Othello is one of the characters who fall in love with Desdemona, a beautiful daughter of Venetian senator and when he goes to Cyprus, he is deceived by Lago to kill Desdemona believing that she is an adulterous. Therefore, the aspect of foreigner s evident in these two plays.
In these two plays, the word ‘barbarian’ is used to refer to those races of people that were not of Greek origin and more so those that were against the Greek culture and civilization (Hall, 1991). The terms also meant people that were sub-human, those that practices vile or inhuman acts and those uncivilized. For instance, in the Medea play, Medea is created in the period of war and she cause killings leading to reappraisal of values in the society. She is barbaric because she comes from a different country and she is violent and causes a lot of pain to her husband. She is known by people to cause pain and suffering because she is thought to posses some supernatural powers that compels people to do as she commands. Such behaviors in ancient Greece therefore, corresponded to the definition of barbarian.
People also realises that apart from doing terrible things, a barbarian is a human being that thinks, has emotions and feelings and has the ability to take control over them. Medea is able to use manipulative speeches to appeal to emotions of people. She is smart and understands that she is a foreigner, one reasons she is not accepted. Therefore, she realizes that she needs to leave but her emotional pain leads her to do unthinkable things such as betraying her husband Jason. Pain is the source of anger and violence. She becomes barbaric when Jason fails to keep his words In Greek society, it seems that people are materialistic and issues of faithfulness and faith seem to be silly and barbaric. Likewise, in Othello, barbarian is exhibited, in the way people behave. They engage in bad acts and cause pain and suffering (Shakespeare, 1998). For instance, Othello kills himself, he also kills Desdemona, Lago stabs Roderigo and Othello and lago makes a brother pact and cuts hands of their enemies. Such behaviors are barbaric and show lack of civilization and humanity.
Therefore, the meaning of the word barbarian is well portrayed through actions and behaviors of various characters in the play. The word is used in relations to the ruthless actions people engage in such as killings and betrayals.
References
Hall, E. (1991). Inventing the Barbarian: Greek Self-definition through Tragedy. Oxford University Press.
Shakespeare, W. (1998). Four Tragedies: Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth. Bantam Books,
